We are now in Kenya!!

Hi All--

Finally got a decent connection here in Nairobi at the hotel.  So hope you
get this message. Our trip last Friday from the Congo and through Uganda
was long and challenging but we made it to Kampala, stayed there one night
and then flew to Nairobi on Saturday.  We have had a great time visiting
the Kenya Children's Fund Schools, both elementary and today the secondary
school.  We met  Aaron's "Moses" and gave him  some Vikings shirts and
some school stuff.  We plan to visit Daystar University this Friday and
then again on Monday.

Judy has made contact with her MASCC members here and we plan to meet them
for dinner as we did last year.

The weather has been in the mid-80's and cool at nite. It just started to
rain, which will settle the dust.  The hotel is more like a guest house
with meals, good service, and comfortable.  Even a hot shower.

Graduation is on Saturday afternoon for the first full class of graduates
from KDS, Kinyago Dondora Schools, where we visited both in 2006 and last
year.


We leave Tuesday nite, the 23rd.

A photo of the team

An update from the Johnsons

This is Judi reporting in for Randy and Judi Johnson on our three days in Uganda. We arrived late on a Tuesday evening after two 8 hour flights and were met by our hosts, Richard and Johnson of RODI (Rakai Orphan Development Initiative). Some of Rodi’s initiatives are to follow up on children previous sponsored by World Vision whose project in Rakai is ending, projects with widow women, and support for several hundred children through school supplies, etc. We traveled to Rakai (3 plus hours) for a two day stay to visit our sponsored children, those of others sponsored by church families, and see first- hand some of the Rakai projects. Highlights included watching the women making beads and baskets that will end up being sold in MN. That money will go back to them for their desired goals. We saw the beginnings of one of the houses—foundation of rocks is done and the woman is gathering the bricks and building supplies for the next step. A slow process but confident that overtime she can do it! Maize (corn) is in season and each home has grown a supply. The one meal a day is two ears per family member which is cut and boiled for the evening dinner. Every family we visited insisted on giving us gifts including a huge basket of avocados, fresh eggs, numerous fruits, and woven mats. The idea of “regifting” became essential! One of our great joys was to meet with Winnie, our previous sponsored child who is about 15 years old. She is now living as a 3rd wife of an Imam. Mike, our sponsored child with the Crosbys, is in a boarding school and was totally surprised to discover that the special visitor to the school was us. It was an emotional reunion. We returned to Kampala and had dinner with former World Vision staff, Kari Miller (Dorcas widows’ project), and families of the RODI staff. The following day the others of our Congo team arrived and we spent the day visiting CornerStone sites to which our church lends support and had tea with Bishop Zak of Kampala. Our first days have been filled with more joys and challenges and leaves our hears full. Next to the Congo which included a very long trip to the Beni of delayed flights, luggage that was diverted, and a 25 mile 3 hour van drive to Beni over questionable mountain roads. But, most important, we got here, our luggage came the next day and the 5 of us are now ready for our time at the Bilingual Christian University of the Congo.

Beni Team has lifted off!

Dear friends and family of the Beni team,

Paul Tshihamba and Curt Koland will be lifting off shortly from Minneapolis airport for their journey to Beni, Congo.  Other team members Judi and Randy Johnson and Jim Kielsmeier are already in Africa doing some pre-trip visits in other countries.  Please keep all this team in your prayers as they travel and seek to serve our partners at Congo Iniative in Beni.  Please also keep Chelsie Frank, CPC's staff liason at Beni in your prayers as she prepares things for the team.

Here is a snapshot of the team's trip so that you can be praying for them along the way:

Wednesday, February 3

• 3:25 PM Departure from MPLS to Amsterdam (Paul & Curt)

Thursday, February 4
• 6:40 AM Arrival in Amsterdam (Paul & Curt)
• 10:20 AM Depart Amsterdam to Nairobi (Paul & Curt)
o Jim Kielsmeier: 1:15 PM Depart Malawi for 4:25 PM Arrival in Nairobi
• 8:25 PM Arrival in Nairobi (Paul & Curt)
• 10:05 PM Depart Nairobi for Entebbe (Paul, Curt, Jim)
• 11:20 PM Arrival in Entebbe -- Overnight in Kampala

Friday, February 5
• Randy and Judi meet up with the team in the morning at the hotel
• Spend the day in Entebbe/Kampala
o Lunch with Zac Niringiye
• Overnight in Kampala

Saturday, February 6
• TMK commuter flight from Entebbe to Butembo at 1 PM (Entire Team)
• Arrive in Butembo at 2:30 PM
• Butembo airport pick up by Chelsie Frank, CPC Staff in Beni
• Overnight in Kasali home

Sunday, February 7
• Attend Chapel
• Congo Initiative orientation
• Fellowship time
• Overnight in Kasali home

Monday, February 8 - Tuesday, February 9
• UCBC (Congolese Bilingual University) & Service Learning Workshop
• Overnight in Kasali home

Wednesday, February 10 - Thursday, February 11
• UCBC
• Overnight in Kasali home

Friday, February 12
• Drive from Beni to Entebbe – depart at 6 AM (Entire Team)
• 10:55 PM Departure from Entebbe to Amsterdam (Paul, Curt, Jim)
o Johnson’s to remain in Kampala & depart for Nairobi February 13

Saturday, February 13
• 5:35 AM Arrival in Amsterdam
• 10:20 AM Departure from Amsterdam to MPLS
• 12:40 PM Arrival in MPLS

Thank you for your support of the CPC Beni Team!

C. John Hildebrand
Associate Director of Missional Engagement
Christ Presbyterian Church
Edina, Minnesota